In the event that the health authorities recommend an additional dose of the vaccine against COVID-19, 89% of the population indicate that they would get it, according to the eighth round of results of the COSMO-Spain study, promoted by the World Organization Health (WHO) and prepared by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII).
The main objective of the work, which has been evaluating, every two months, the knowledge and perception of the risk of the population in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic since May 2020, has as its main objective to provide relevant and updated information that helps to face the epidemic .
The results of this eighth round include a new maximum in confidence in vaccines, a decrease in concern about SARS-CoV-2 that consolidates a trend already observed in previous rounds, and a growing optimism regarding management and evolution. of the pandemic. The search for information continues to be reduced and the scientific community continues to be the group that generates the most trust.
The perception of risk decreases both in terms of the probability of contagion and the severity of the disease. The percentage of the population that thinks that the disease would be serious or very serious in case of contagion falls from 27% to 24% compared to the previous survey, and only 17% think that they have a high probability of being infected, compared to 18 % from the previous round.
The survey also reflects the decrease in the perception of contagion risk in specific scenarios. The situations in which the greatest probability of contagion is perceived continues to be going to crowded places in closed spaces, public transport and meetings with friends / family.
Self-efficacy, understood as the perceived ability to avoid contagion, has improved and in this round 32% of those surveyed report that it is easy for them to avoid contagion (compared to 27% in the previous round).
Adherence to preventive measures is still very high, but there is a slight decrease in preventive behavior, which is more pronounced in the correct use of the mask. The measures that the surveyed population refers to practicing more frequently are still using a mask, hand hygiene and ventilation (with means greater than 4 on a scale of 1 to 5). Adherence is lower for the measures “avoid social / family gatherings” and “disinfect surfaces”.
The frequency of searching for information has decreased compared to the previous round, with only 19% of the population indicating that they consult information on coronavirus several times a day and 40% never or almost never. And, in general, there is an increase in the average level of agreement with all the proposed measures, particularly the agreement with which those vaccinated with the full schedule can move without restrictions within Spain (average of 3.6 out of 5) and in the European Union (3.3 out of 5).
93% of the people who answered the survey say they have received some dose of the vaccine. 85% of them indicate that they have been informed about the type of vaccine administered. Satisfaction is adequate for all relevant aspects related to vaccination evaluated, increasing in all of them with respect to the previous round. However, the level of agreement that those vaccinated with the complete schedule should continue to comply with all the restrictions falls, although it continues to be the measure that generates the most agreement (4.1 out of 5).
Among the most cited reasons for getting vaccinated are to protect one’s own health and that of others, although in both cases there is a decrease in the percentage of respondents who indicate it compared to previous rounds. On the contrary, the number of respondents for whom being able to meet family and friends is a reason for vaccination increases (from 43% in round 7 to 49% in this round).
Among those surveyed, there is 5% who say they do not want to be vaccinated, as in the previous round. Among the reasons for non-vaccination, the percentage of people who indicate that they lack information to decide has decreased (31% in round 8 compared to 40% in the previous round) and the percentage of respondents who indicate that they would wait a while (33% in this round versus 37% in the previous round).
While the percentage of those who believe that the vaccine may have risks to their health has increased (51% in this round compared to 45%), of those who believe that the vaccine will not be effective (36% in this round compared to 27 %), those who do not believe in vaccines (21% today compared to 13%) and those who believe that they are unlikely to be infected (19% compared to 15% in the previous round).
1042 people residing in Spain, over 18 years of age, participated in this round, with a similar distribution by sex. 34% of the participants were between 45 and 60 years old. 32% had university studies and most of the participants (54%) reported that they were working, of which 47% indicated that they work in person in environments with moderate risk of contagion. 22% of those surveyed indicated that their economic situation had worsened in the last 3 months.
CONCERN AND THE SITUATION OF THE PANDEMIC
In this round of the study, general concern regarding the coronavirus drops notably and for the first time since the start of the pandemic, less than 39% of the population reports high levels of concern (compared to 49% in the previous round). The feeling that the virus spreads fast has also dropped in this round to the lowest levels since the surveys began and only 28% of the population report feeling that it spreads very fast.
Feelings of fear and depression also reach the lowest frequencies in this round, with 34% and 31% of citizens reporting high feelings of fear and depression, respectively. The concerns of the population decrease for all the situations raised in the survey with the exception of the concern about “losing a loved one” and “not being able to pay the bills”, which remain.
The situations that most concern the population continue to be losing a loved one, infecting the family and saturation of health services (with an average greater than 4, on a scale of 1 to 5). Family fights over compliance with the rules and going outside are the situations that least concern the respondents (all with a mean equal to or less than 3). Optimism regarding the pandemic situation has increased notably in this round, and 80% of those surveyed perceive that the worst is over (compared to 54% in the previous round).
It is worth noting the percentage of the population that incorrectly thinks that “If the result of a test is negative, I can meet with friends and family without security measures”, which increases from 7.2% in the previous round to 12, 3% in the current one. There is also a notable increase in the percentage of those who mistakenly believe that symptoms appear as soon as you are infected (from 9.1% to 9.5%) and that the mask must be removed to cough or sneeze (from 4.9% to 6 ,1%).
Finally, regarding the measures to control a regrowth with which the population agrees most would be to dissolve bottles and fine the participants (average of 4.3 out of 5), to unify the regulations at the national level (3.7), to confine the most affected areas (3.5), control the capacity of beaches and parks (3.5), limit meetings with non-partners (3.4), close nightlife again (3.3) and request a COVID certificate for enter places of leisure (3.3).
